Resources for Procuring the “Right” LMS
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• IT infrastructure assessments that provide baseline information about the
current configuration of the organization’s IT backbone and programs that exist
on desktops across the enterprise. This assessment should define connectivity that
remote learners and those closer to the central IT hubs will experience. One major
collateral benefit from conducting this sort of assessment is that it engages the IT
department at the beginning of the process. Support from IT is critical to a
successful LMS implementation.
• Cultural readiness assessments help determine an organization’s ability to
embrace new learning strategies and the extent organizational change efforts are
needed during implementation. Often, LMS implementation projects address all
of the technical aspects adequately but overlook political, cultural, and practical
implications. That oversight generally results in a stalled or failed initiative. A
cultural readiness assessment helps define parameters for success, such as
whether you need intense internal marketing for your programs.
• Administrative process analysis that maps existing administrative efforts that
govern the training function and identifies procedures that will change due to an
LMS implementation. Examples include how to handle overbooked classes and
capturing and recording learner results and feedback. Analysis will also determine
where the LMS needs to connect to existing HR software systems and databases.
Determine your requirements and ensure they are clearly specified in your contract:
Determining your requirements is the most crucial step in selecting an LMS vendor. If
you don't know your requirements you will not be able to effectively communicate them
to vendors. Here are a few important points about your requirements:
• First begin by documenting your current state - how do you conduct your work
today.
• Next record your future state - where you would like to be?
• Finally, document the requirements for getting to your future state.
Consider how an LMS will help bridge the gap and enable you to meet your goals.
Failure to determine requirements may result in your selection criteria being based on
vendor features rather than your organization’s needs.
Talk candidly with people administering LMSs in similar organizations about their
experiences:
Find people administering LMSs in organizations like yours (with similar goals and
objectives) and have a conversation with them about their experiences. Talk to them
about their process and set-up and how they’d do it differently. Their “lessons learned”
can save you a lot of time and effort by helping you anticipate and plan for possible
pitfalls throughout the acquisition process. You can also get information on LMS
vendors from vendors’ websites or research and comparison reports. You should be able
to develop a list of LMS providers that would be a good fit for your organization based
on research reports you can obtain, reviewing vendor websites, and talking with previous
clients,.